Illuminator



y 1934- L. A. SHERMAN 1,960,288

ILLUMINATOR Filed July 10, 1933 IN l/EN 70% 400/82 fiber/wan,

,4 TTOENE Patented May 29, 1934 1,960,288 ILLUMINATOR Louie A. Sherman,Alton, Ill.

Application July 10, 1933, Serial No. 679,708

14 Claims.

This invention relates generally to illuminators and, more particularly,to a certain new and useful improvement in illuminators of the typecommonly known as emergency or safety lights, beacons, flares, and thelike.

My invention has for its chief object the provision, as a new article ofmanufacture, of an illuminator of the type stated which may beinexpensively manufactured, which may be readily ignited, which is asize for ready, convenient portability in a coat-pocket or the like,which will burn for a relatively long period with an elongated easilyvisible illuminating flame, and which is safely and efficiently usablein the performance of its intended functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts all as presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a plan view of the illuminatorwith the igniting-cover partly broken away; and

Figure 2 illustrates the illuminator partly in side elevation and partlyin section.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing,which illustrates a practical embodiment of my invention, the light orilluminator comprises a preferably cylindrical plug or body Aconstructed preferably of a suitable meltable hydrocarbonaceousilluminating or other combustible material, such as paraffine, which inthe present instance, is substantially pure and of 118 to 122 meltingpoint (American), formed to the desired contour and dimensions by anysuitable means.

For convenience and facility in igniting the illuminator, a match B ispartly lengthwise embedded centrally in the combustible plug A, as bestseen in Figure 2, the match B projecting at its upper end upwardlybeyond the plane of the plug or body A, and preferably disposed upon theupper end of plug A and surrounding the projecting upper end of theigniter B, is a primer C comprising a suitable mass or tuft ofpreferably non-packing fibre, such, for instance, as kapok, preferablyimpregnated or soaked with kerosene or other readily combustiblecarbonaceous material.

Snugly or tightly wrapped around and embracing the body A, is a tubularwick D, which is constructed of a suitable non-combustible andnon-inflammable material, such as and preferably relatively thin sheetasbestos, first preferably dipped in liquid or melted parafiine.

Through their inherent characteristics, the body A and the so treatedwick D firmly adhere one to the other, and to further facilitate readyand quick ignition of the illuminator, the wick D is originallyconstructed to also extend above the plane of the body A, whichprojecting wick portion is suitably divided and formed to include anannular series of preferably pointed tongues d, which are bent inwardlyand downwardly to overlie the primer C and to approximately abut attheir tips or apices the match or igniter B, as best seen in Figure l,the kerfs or divisions between the several tongues 02 permittingsufficient atmosphere to the primer C to support quick and readycombustion on the ignition of the match B.

Preferably then the illuminator is retained within a cup-shapedbase-member E constructed of any suitable cardboard or other material,which may preferably, as shown, but not necessarily, include anupstanding illuminator-enclosing or container wall F. For convenienceand safety, the container F may also include a readily removable flangedclosure or cover-cap G, the end wall of which latter may be provided onits outer face with any suitable striker or friction substance H forconvenience, on removal of the cap, in igniting the match B.

The illuminator is thus in itself readily ignited without the employmentof other substances and, when ignited, burns for quite an extendedperiod of time with a substantially elongated cylindrical flame of moreor less brilliancy, the paraffine, as it melts, flowing to and throughthe pores of, and burning only on, the asbestoswick D.

The illuminator is quite handy for fishermen, hunters, automobilists,and campers and is particularly useful as a beacon, flare, orsignallinglight, and in various emergencies; and it is to be understoodthat changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofthe several parts of the illuminator may be made and substituted forthose herein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,--

1. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofcombustible material, and a wick surrounding and having surfaceengagement with the body.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising acylindrical body of meltable combustible material, and a tubular wicksurrounding and having surface engagement with the body.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofmeltable hydrocarbonaceous material, and a wick embracingly surroundingand having surface engagement with the body.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofparafiine, and a wick embracingly surrounding and having surfaceengagement with the body. I

5. As a new article of manufacture, an il1 uminator comprising a body ofparaffine, and an asbestos paraifine-inipregnated wick embracinglysurrounding and having surface engagement with the body.

6. As a new article of'manufacture, an illuminator comprising acylindrical body of paraffine, and a tubular asbestos wick embracinglysurrounding and having surface engagement with the body.

7. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising acylindrical body of paraffine, and a tubular asbestos wick surroundingand embracing the body, the wick having an end portion divided toinclude an annular series of tongues disposed inwardly of and overlyingthe body.

V 8. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a bodyof paraffine, an igniter having an end-portion embedded in the body, anda wick surrounding and embracing the body, the wick including a seriesof pointed tongues dis-' posed over the body with their tips inadjacence to the igniter.

9. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofparaffine, an igniter having an end-portion embedded in the body, a wicksurrounding and embracing the body, the wick including a series ofpointed tongues overlying the body and having their tips in adjacence tothe igniter, and a primer disposed intermediate the body and saidtongues.

10. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofparaifine, a wick surrounding and embracing the body, the wick includinga marginal portion overlying the body, and a primer disposedintermediate the body and said marginal'wick-portion;

11. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofparafline, an igniter having an end-portion embedded in the body, atubular wick surrounding and embracing the body, the wick including aseries of pointed tongues overlying the body and having their tips inadjacence to the igniter, and a primer comprising combustible kapokdisposed intermediate the body and said tongues.

12. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising acylindrical body of paraffine, a tubular asbestos wick surrounding andembracing the body, and a flanged base for confining the lower marginalportion of the body and wick.

13. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofparaffine, an igniter having an end portion embedded in the body, and atubular Wick embracingly surrounding and embracing the body, incombination with an openend shell for. housing the illuminator, and aclosure for the open end of the shell, the closure having an end wallprovided with a striking surface for ignition of the igniter.

14. As a new article of manufacture, an illuminator comprising a body ofparaffine, an igniter having an end-portion embedded in the body, and awick embracingly surrounding and having surface engagement with thebody.

LOUIE A. SHERMAN.

